RESIDENTS battling to clean up a rat-infested children's playground have described the site as resembling a ‘jungle’.

The play area in the Tenby Close estate in the Shear Brow, Blackburn, attracted the vermin because of tons of rubbish strewn in overgrown bushes, according to residents.

Residents and councillors claim they have fought for six years to get Blackburn with Darwen Council and Twin Valley Homes - which owns the land between Ruthin Close and Neath Close - to take action.

But council bosses said they did not believe the bushes were the source of the problem, but they were taking steps to address rats in the area. Twin Valley said the plaground ‘was not dangerous’.

Dozens of letters and a petition signed by more than 50 residents have been handed to council leaders urging them to clean-up what they say is a 'dangerous and disgraceful' area.

And police have also stepped up patrols after reports of anti-social behaviour and drug taking.

Local councillor, Iftakhar Hussain, said: “The shrubs and bushes next to the play area have grown so large that it is like a jungle and people keep throwing rubbish in it which is attracting the rats.

"We have campaigned for many years now and it is about time it was maintained and cleaned properly.

"We need a permanent solution. There are many families in the area and they are worried about letting their children play there.

"It is absolutely horrendous and an embarrasment.”

Senior managers at Twin Valley Homes said the area was inspected on a daily basis.

Glen Finch, head of regeneration at Twin Valley Homes said they were planning to refurbish play areas, including the one in Neath Close, adding: “We take responsibility for the safety of our playgrounds very seriously and the playground at Neath Close is not dangerous.”

Coun Faryad Hussain, executive member for environmental improvement and sustainability said they were aware of the rat problem in the area: "Officers have been taking steps to address the problem, which is being monitored closely.

"However no evidence of rats has been found in the bushes near these properties and we believe they are not the source of the problem."